Sensors will give warning of flood risk

ELECTRONIC warning sensors have been fitted to culverts in a bid to prevent a repeat of flooding which left 89 homes under water.

In what was dubbed the worst flooding the area had seen for 50 years, homes were left severely damaged in Garth, Maesteg, last November.

During a torrential rain storm, up to three feet of muddy water swept down streets and into homes saturating everything and forcing families to move out. Properties in Pencoed were also flooded.

Bridgend County Borough Council blamed culverts which had become overwhelmed by fly-tipping and debris that had washed down from private land located further upstream.

The authority said the culvert at Heol Faen in Garth has been fitted with new electronic flood warning sensors and improved culvert access, and a CCTV survey has been carried out to make sure there are no unseen defects ahead of the winter season.

A spokesman said the landowner at the culvert site is also looking into installing additional fencing and secure access that will deter fly-tippers from dumping items that might cause a blockage.

He added the council has met with them to discuss how watercourses crossing their land can be checked for potential problems.

At the Greenacres Drive culvert in Pencoed a CCTV survey has also been carried out and new electronic flood warning sensors installed.

The council said the flood warning sensors have been funded by Welsh Government and the action plan forms part of the annual flood investigation report for the period 2016-2017.

Coun Richard Young, cabinet member for com- munities, said: “A schedule of regular culvert inspections is already in place and the council carries out additional checks when severe weather has been forecast.

“Unfortunately, we experienced several unusually heavy periods of rainfall last year and circumstances beyond our control meant that a number of properties were affected.

“We’ve carried out work to help prevent the risk of future flooding, and while we cannot make improvements on land that we do not own, we have been encouraging other landowners to undertake similar action.

“The annual flooding report has also highlighted that in many cases during last year’s severe weather, swift intervention by the council’s highways team prevented water from entering a number of properties throughout the county borough, so I would like to thank them for their efforts.”